Springfield daily republic. [volume] (Springfield, O. [Ohio]) 1887-1888, 1887-11-29
ErrrScrrox VERSUS PROHIBITION.


We print in today's RErUBLIc a letter
from Rev. W. g. Waters, Of Kansas, ad-
dressed to our county commissioner, Mr..
ID. W. Rawlings. and a reply from Mr..
Rawlings to Mr.. Waters. Both should be
thoroughly read. as they throw light upon
an important problem now before the peo-
pie. and. indeed, always before the people.
The question at issue is-Do prohibition
laws extinguish the traffic in Intoxicating
drinks We have the testimony Of many
good men, besides Mr.. Rawlings, to the
effect that they do not. To prohibit is to
forbid-nothing mora-and the prohibition
party is fighting under flag tha. means
nothing. They clsim the word prohibition
as their peculiar property and that the
principle it involves is the remedy for all
evils of the liquor traffic.
But what is needed is not prohibition.
merely. but absolute extinction. We have
had prohibition in Ohio for shalt century
before the party Of that name was ever
heard OF. but the traffic still exists. Prohi-
bition prevails in Maine. New Hampshire.
Vermont. Rhode Island, Massachusetts,.
Iowa and Kansas. That is to say-the
traffic in intoxicating drink is forbidden by
Law. in those states.
So sar, SO good. We cay. 1t ought 70 be
forbidden by law everywhere. But We
have the evidences Of Mr.. Rawlngs-end
neither Mr.. Waters nor anybody else can
shake the force of the testimony of such a
man, as to what he has seen with his own
eyes-that liquor is sold and draRk In Kan
sas. Both Mr.. Waters and Mr.. Rawlings
agree that there are no open saloons la
Kansas. and we are glad TO know that re-
publican legislation in republican state
has made SO great an achievement as this.
Much of the evil and harm Of the liquor
traffic are done away when the doors Of the
tipping shops are closed.
Bat the fact still remains that prohibit
tion. while 1t forbids. does not extinguish.
This has been the fact for centuries. in all
the countries Of the earth. 1t is one
thing to forbid-it is another TO enforce the
prohibition. Francis Z. Willard. the
brightest and most manly member Of the
prohibition party. is keen enough to see
that the name OF the organization is mis-
nomer. and proposes another nearer appro-
pirate, but her male associates in the lead
ership OF the party haven't the practical
sense to accept her suggestion.
Mr.. Rswiings-it will be seen-dOes not
touch the question As to the wholesomsnsss
or effectiveness OF the anti-liquor legisla-
ton of Kansas. but merely answers the
questions Of Mr.. Waters. and simply
shows that the prohibition o! the liquor
traffic does not extinguish it.
In connection with this. it should be
borne in mind that legislation. to be effect
i've and held in respect by the people. should
be enforceable. The republic ans of Ohio
enact laws applicable to the circumstances.
They tax the gaffic. thereby extllguishing.
s:sssfy, thousands Of drinking psa..S>.s--snd
the taxes Of those remaining are paid. TO
the extent of about two millions year;
and then they give all communities the or
ton Of utterly wiping out the grog-shops If
their citizens choose 10 do il. They have
brought anti-liquor legislation up 10 the
point Of enforcement, and it is of kind
that commands the respect and esteem OF
reasonable men of all parties. Legislation
OF this sort is Of high order. and most
honorable to the party which originated
and maintains it.